Chopping-machine



t e e h S m e e h S 2 .B Nm w A M G N I WP GE 0 (No Model.)

No. 481,766. Patented'Aug, 30, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. W. MASON. cnorrme MACHINE.

No. 481,766. Patented Aug. 30, 1892.

five/ah Geo, W Waaam I NITED STATES GEORGE WV. MASON, OF SHARON,PENNSYLVANIA.

CHOPPING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,766, dated August30, 1892.

Application filed December 4,1891. Serial No.414,028. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. MASON, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Sharon, in the county of Mercer and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inChopping- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a meat-chopping machine, and is intended to reduce meator.other ma terial to a finely-divided condition.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of theapparatus, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a View ofa section on line so as of Fig. 1, with parts omitted. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7,8, and 9 are views of details.

It will be understood that while I describe the machine as ameat-chopper, it may be used to cut up any other kind of material whenthis is found desirable.

The working parts are supported upon ordinary framework consisting ofuprights and cross-pieces sufficient to give the necessary strength tothe structure.

The meat-chopping block is arranged in the form of a receptacle, asshown at B, having a thicker lower portion a, which serves to sustainthe impact of the knives. This block is supported upon an adjustabletable I), which is provided with adj Listing-screws supporting the sameand adapted to raise or lower it, as

desired, these adjusting-screws being shown at 2'.

Between the adjustable table I) and the bottom of the block orreceptacle B, I interpose antifriction balls or rollers, or any suitablerolling means which will permit of the rotation of the block during theoperation of the machine, so as to present different parts of the blockand the material carried thereby to the action of the knives.

The cutters consist of blades 0, which are adjustably connected tohorizontal bars d, and these bars are reciprocated to provide thenecessary movement to the knives. These bars extend to the rear of themachine and have slotted ends, as shown at K, which permit them to beslipped over a rod 2, that serves as a bearing for the bars at this end,this rod being supported by a bracket 3, extending from the rear of themachine. Each of the bars (:1 is under spring-tension, as shown at 4,which shows a spring encircling a spindle, the lower end of which bearson one of the bars cl, and the other end of the spring bears against across-bar 5, which is adjusted to increase and diminish the tension ofthe springs by screws 6.

A shaft 7 extends across the front of the machine and upon this shaft agear-wheel e is fixed, this gear deriving motion through a pinion f andgear g, the latter gear being on the end of a driving-shaft, which isrotated by hand or power and is provided with a balance-wheel h.

()n the shaft 7, between the uprights of the frame, are located a seriesof wheels or disks n, and these have pins projecting from their facenear the periphery. One of these disks is provided for each cutter-bar,and the ends of the bars project into the space between the disks. Itwill thus be seen that as the disks are rotated the pins will comeincontact with the ends of the cutter-bars, and this will have theeffect of elevating the bars until the pin passes beyond the line ofsaid bar, when it will immediately fall by its own weight and by thetension of its spring. The pins are so arranged in the disks relativelyto each other as to make the action of 'the knives successive.

In order to take up the shock of the cutterbar and prevent too severe ablow or out upon the chopping-block, which would soon wear the blockout, I extend brackets from the frame, as shown at o, supporting a bar0' and thus provide a buffer forthese cutter-bars. The opposite end ofthe shaft 7 has a beveled gear, which, through another bevel-gear 9,transmits rotary motion to a vertical shaft 10, which, by means of asprocket-chain and projection on the periphery of the block B, rotatesthe said block continuously during the operation of the machine.

Having now described the machine generally, I will refer to the detailsof construction and arrangement. The rear part A of the frame has anupper movable portion 15, which is held adjustably in any position bythe setscrews 21. The movable portion is guided by the clips 20. Byremoving this portion 15 any of the knives or all of them may be thrownbaclgas indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 1.

Instead of having the plungers 4, the bars 61 may be placed undertension by the springs and hooked rods 22, located below the bars cl inthe frame 23. The tension of these springs is regulated by the screws 24and the crossbar 25. The rotary block, as in Fig. 6, has pins 26 on itslower face, adapted to holes in a plate 27. This plate carries a stud27, which is provided with a socket to receive the reduced end of thescrew 28, which is adjusted vertically with the table and block, so asalways to engage the socket-stud and thus furnish a journal for theblock about which it may revolve. The buffer-bar 0' is held adjustablyin the brackets 0 by set-screws 29 30, and its position may be regulatedaccurately. It has a strip of bufiing material along its upper edge. Adeflector 31 is attached to the bar and depends into the block or tub,and it is so shaped as to cause the meat or material being chopped to beconstantly turned inward toward the center of rotation.

The knives are adjustable across the block, for which purpose the bars(Z are provided with slots 32, through which extend the screw-clampingrods 33, held by the upper and lower nuts 34 and plates 35. Theknivesare also intended to be tilted, so that the wear of the cutting-edge maybe regulated by adjustment, and in order to do this either end of theknife may be raised or lowered by loosening the nuts 3i and adjustingthe clamping-rods 33 with the yokes 36, attached thereto and pivotallyconnected with the knife by the single bolt 37. The knife is provided onits upper edge with the round bearing-edge 38, against which theinterior of the yoke bears, as shown in Fig. 4., and this hearingremains constant in all the adjustments of the knife.

Instead of the springs and plungers 4, the bars 01 may have leaf-springs39, as in Fig.7, which are combined with antifriction-rolls 40 on thecross-bar 41 of the movable frame 15.

Instead of the disks a, carrying the elevating-rolls, arms 41* may besubstituted, as in Fig. 8, to accomplish this purpose.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination, the chopping-block, thesupporting-frame, the pivoted bars carrying the knives, the means foroperating the said bars upward, and the vertically adjustable andremovable frame 15, arranged to slidein ways on the main frame andcarrying the tension means and guides for the bars, which pass throughthe guides and are pressed upon by the tension means, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination, the chopping-block, the main frame, the bars (I,pivoted thereto and having slots 32 extending longitudinally thereof,the knives, the supporting-bolts for said knives passing through slotsin the bars and having yokes secured to the knives, whereby the knivesmay be adjusted across the chopping-block, each of said knives havingarounded bearing 38 to bear upon the yoke, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the main frame, the knife-bars, with operating means,the chopping-block, with means for rotating it, the table 1), havingrollers upon which the chopping-block rests, the means for verticallyadjusting said table, the central bearing 27 on the block, and thepivot-screw 2S, vertically adj ustable centrally through the table I) toengage the bearing on the block, substantially as described.

t. In combination, in a meat-chopper, the knife-bars, with operatingmeans therefor, the main frame, the chopping-block, with means forrotating it, the central pivot 28, the central bearing 27 and the plate27, detachably connected with the lower end of the chopping-block andcarrying the said pivot, substantially as described.

5. In combination, in a meat-chopper, of the knife having the curvedbearing 38 on its upper edge, the means for supporting the knife pivotedat the center from which the curve of said bearing is struck, said meanshaving a bearing in engagement with the curved edge to sustain thethrust of the knife, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE IV. MASON.

\Vitnesses:

G. W. SHILLING, A. W. WILLIAMS.

